Justin Verlander exits early in Giants' home opener against Mariners

In his highly anticipated home debut for the San Francisco Giants, 42-year-old pitcher Justin Verlander struggled against the Seattle Mariners, lasting only 2 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on five hits. Despite his shaky performance, which included 65 pitches with only 44 strikes, Verlander received an enthusiastic ovation from a sellout crowd of over 40,000 fans as he exited the field. Giants manager Bob Melvin expressed pride in having Verlander on the mound for the home opener, a special occasion marking the 25th anniversary of Oracle Park. This was Verlander's second career start at Oracle Park, and he hopes to prove himself after an injury-plagued previous season. Although he did not contribute significantly to the game, the Giants ultimately secured a dramatic 10-9 victory in extra innings. Verlander reflected positively on the fan atmosphere, noting the special nature of the day and the support he received from the crowd.